Persuasive Writing for the High School ClassroomPersuasive Writing

Concession and RebuttalShould cell phones be allowed in school? Many school boards are dealing with this issue. In a multi-paragraph letter to your school board, persuade the members to agree with your position on whether or not cell phones should be allowed in school.

NO

Dear members,

How many times does a person have to sit through the beginning of a new movie and watch those annoying anti-cell phone ads? I mean, come on. Those stupid ads have become more annoying than the phones themselves – almost. I have to say that as sick and tired as I am of watching that dumb buffalo hunt, or the samurai warriors, or the animated eagle, I appreciate the last reminder to turn off the phone.

Why do people need a cell phone at the movies anyway? They just paid seven or eight dollars to be entertained. Now they’re going to talk on the phone and ignore the movie? No one can concentrate equally on both. This is true in school as well. A learning environment (the classroom) needs to be free from distraction so students can focus their concentration on the task at hand. Cell phones break that concentration and therefore should be banned from school altogether.

Those against my position will argue that the phone is an absolute necessity in case of an emergency.

They are right - a phone is a vital communication tool in any stressful situation. Our school, therefore, has several. One is located at the main-floor reception desk, another at the attendance desk, one at the counseling desk as well as the library. If these are not enough, there are phones in every classroom as well as in all of the administrative and counseling offices – so, what’s the problem? A parent desperately needing to speak with a child can easily call the school. The message will immediately be delivered and the student can then make the call outside of the classroom, thus creating a minimal disturbance.

What a about the issue of integrity? Our school district has very strict rules regarding cheating and plagiarism. I would think the board would want to do everything

possible to enforce those rules. Cell phones can easily be used to text message and photograph test questions. Banning them from school eliminates the problem and shows our district to be considerate and consistent in its regard for the school rules.Society has functioned quite

well the last one hundred years without cell phones. I have yet to hear of an overwhelming need for a cell phone to come into the classroom. I hope you will agree with my position on this issue.

Sincerely,Dan James

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved.

Persuasive Writing for the High School ClassroomPersuasive Writing

Concession and RebuttalShould cell phones be allowed in school? Many school boards are dealing with this issue. In a multi-paragraph letter to your school board, persuade the members to agree with your position on whether or not cell phones should be allowed in school.

NO

Dear members,

How many times does a person have to sit through the beginning of a new movie and watch those annoying anti-cell phone ads? I mean, come on. Those stupid ads have become more annoying than the phones themselves – almost. I have to say that as sick and tired as I am of watching that dumb buffalo hunt, or the samurai warriors, or the animated eagle, I appreciate the last reminder to turn off the phone.

Why do people need a cell phone at the movies anyway? They just paid seven or eight dollars to be entertained. Now they’re going to talk on the phone and ignore the movie? No one can concentrate equally on both. This is true in school as well. A learning environment (the classroom) needs to be free from distraction so students can focus their concentration on the task at hand. Cell phones break that concentration and therefore should be banned from school altogether.

Those against my position will argue that the phone is an absolute necessity in case of an emergency.

They are right - a phone is a vital communication tool in any stressful situation. Our school, therefore, has several. One is located at the main-floor reception desk, another at the attendance desk, one at the counseling desk as well as the library. If these are not enough, there are phones in every classroom as well as in all of the administrative and counseling offices – so, what’s the problem? A parent desperately needing to speak with a child can easily call the school. The message will immediately be delivered and the student can then make the call outside of the classroom, thus creating a minimal disturbance.

What about the issue of integrity? Our school district has very strict rules regarding cheating and plagiarism. I would think the board would want to do everything

possible to enforce those rules. Cell phones can easily be used to text message and photograph test questions. Banning them from school eliminates the problem and shows our district to be considerate and consistent in its regard for the school rules.Society has functioned quite

well the last one hundred years without cell phones. I have yet to hear of an overwhelming need for a cell phone to come into the classroom. I hope you will agree with my position on this issue.

Sincerely,Dan James

Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved.